O'Malley: Presidency no 'crown to be passed between 2 families'

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley stepped up his criticism of Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton on Sunday, breaking with a previous strategy of ignoring questions about her.

Without ever directly attacking the former secretary of state during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” O’Malley portrayed himself as a new face for the Democratic Party and a progressive alternative, more willing to directly confront inequality and take on Wall Street.

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“I think that our country always benefits from new leadership and new perspectives,” he said. “Let’s be honest here, the presidency of the United States is not some crown to be passed between two families. It is an awesome and sacred trust.”

The former governor, who often trails Clinton by 50 percentage points or more in early-state polls, could end up being Clinton’s only challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is also weighing a race, and Vice President Joe Biden has yet to rule it out.

“We need a president who is ready to take on powerful and wealthy special interests,” O’Malley said.

Asked if Clinton was the right candidate to take on those special interests, O’Malley said: “I don’t know. I don’t know where she stands. Will she represent a break with the failed policies of the past? I don’t know.”

O’Malley, who endorsed Clinton over President Barack Obama in 2008, had shunned questions about Clinton since he left office early this year. But he has lately stepped up his attacks on Wall Street, potentially attempting to woo supporters of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and highlighting an area where Clinton is weak with progressives.